Election 2026
The 2026 midterms — the year also marking the 250th anniversary of the United States — include elections for every member of the U.S. House of Representatives, one-third of the U.S. Senate, many state supreme court seats, and numerous state and local officials. Voters will also evaluate ballot measures for new laws and state constitutional amendments related to abortion, the environment, voting, and other topics.
All year, State Court Report will cover the 2026 judicial elections and ballot measures that impact state constitutions, as well as election-related litigation, with explainers, analysis, data visualization, and other reporting. State courts and constitutions play an important role in elections at all levels, settling questions related to ballot access, voting processes, recount challenges, and more.
The 2026 state supreme court elections span 32 states, including races in Michigan, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and Wisconsin that could change the balance of power in those states or have other significant effects.
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How Courts Oversee Ballot Initiatives
State courts — and to some degree federal courts — play a significant role in every stage of the direct democracy process.
Florida High Court to Hear Arguments in Politicized “Voter Fraud” Case
The case challenges Gov. Ron DeSantis’s prosecutions of people with felony convictions who thought they were eligible to vote.
2026 Abortion-Related Ballot Measures
Ballot measures continue to be a tool in the fight over abortion rights, with some states attempting to expand rights and others looking to shore up restrictions.
The Next Round of Partisan Gerrymandering Fights
An unprecedented cycle of mid-decade redistricting highlights a state-by-state legal patchwork, with significant national implications.
What Happens if the U.S. Supreme Court Guts the Voting Rights Act?
State provisions could help fill a voting rights gap, but they are a poor substitute for a strong federal standard.
So You Passed a State Constitutional Amendment Protecting Abortion. Now What?
Voter approval of an amendment is often just one step in lengthy legal and political wrangling over state abortion rights.
What We Learned From State Ballot Measures
The results of 2024's state ballot measures reveal mixed voter opinions on abortion, workers’ rights, and direct democracy.
Voters Across the Country Amend Their Constitutions
Through ballot measures, voters expressed policy preferences on issues including abortion, drug legalization, and same-sex marriage.